New Year's Week: 2012

Pretty soon our coldest week will be here in Charleston. Our last chance for snow, which is what my daughter and I look forward to every winter. Time to cut back all of the coleus, Persian shield, and dead ligularia & hydrangea blooms. Looking forward to several months of camellias though! And can't wait to see how many color combinations that local gardeners make out of pansies with decorative cabbages. On a side note: Hyams Garden Center on Folly Road has a new website. If you love boutique garden shopping in Charleston, then you've been there. They also have a blog and an e-newsletter you can sign up for. www.hyamsgardencenter.com This Palmetto, SC state tree, was gorgeous this morning at sunrise towering over a frozen puddle. Frozen puddles are a rare sight in downtown Charleston.

Camellias are back! My neighbor has more than 40 varieties in her backyard, but doesn't know any of their names since the previous homeowner planted them over 25 years ago. These drape over the fence into my yard. More camellia photos to follow....

I found this funky fungus growing in my next door neighbor's yard growing in their mulch. It looks so incredibly poisonous but after reading up on this "column stinkhorn" it appears to be OK. But the smell is so terrible, I don't see how anyone would get close enough to even find out if it was poisonous!